A Chocolate Dream

Dream Poem

I’m walking through a porcelain grove of trees
An old mug leads the way
No one is talking
The woman stops
Points to a jar of spiced hot chocolate powder
The trees are huge with chocolate roots
We gather around her
Open a can of coconut milk
“This is where we placed the hot chocolate yet to come,”
The woman says
This chocolate tree she points to has been hollowed out by fire
And in my head I briskly stir the coconut milk with chocolate powder
The woman is a survivor of genocide
She turns to face us, taking out a stirring spoon
I see her, and she looks like thick, melted chocolate
She shuts the dry, papery door
I know she is like this because of the coconut milk
That she was tortured, singing verses
“I am smooth,” she says
She stirs her chocolate and coconut milk
“They cut out people’s hearts with old-fashioned can openers”
I shake my head, sing the last verse
I imagine my chocolate heart carved out
She smiles, pouring milk into her mug
I realize I’m not wearing shoes
I stir until my mixture is smooth with no lumps
I feel lost, exposed, chocolaty
And I sing half a verse
I climb the porcelain trees
I climb to the south and take the first sip
I climb to the east and take the second sip
In praise of the gods of chocolate and coconut milk trees
I climb with my perfect chocolate